Last Name Erdos

The surname Erdős is of Hungarian origin. It is a common Hungarian surname, derived from the word "erdő" which means "forest" in English. The surname Erdős likely originated from someone who lived near a forest or whose occupation involved forests (e.g., as a forester). One famous individual with this surname is Paul Erdős, a Hungarian mathematician known for his contributions to combinatorics and number theory. He is considered one of the most prolific mathematicians in history, having published over 1,500 papers during his lifetime.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Erdos

The meaning and origin of the last name Erdos

The surname Erdős is of Hungarian origin, derived from the Hungarian word "erdő," which means "forest" in English. It is most famously associated with Paul Erdős (1913-1996), a prolific mathematician known for his collaborative work and numerous contributions to various areas of mathematics. The spelling and pronunciation of the name can vary slightly depending on regional dialects, but it is generally pronounced as [ˈɛrdöʃ] in Hungary. The Erdős family has a long history in Transylvania, a region that was part of the Kingdom of Hungary until the 20th century. The name's origin in Hungarian folklore and history remains undocumented; however, it is a common surname among Hungarians, particularly those living in present-day Hungary, Romania, and other diaspora communities around the world.

Geographical distribution of the last name Erdos

The surname Erdős is predominantly found in Hungary, where it originated. It is also common among the Hungarian diaspora, particularly in countries such as the United States, Israel, Canada, Germany, and Australia, due to migrations from Hungary over the centuries. Mathematician Paul Erdős, a notable bearer of this surname, was born in Budapest and had an international academic career, contributing to the global dispersal of the name. The name is relatively rare compared to other common Hungarian last names, with approximately 140,000 people globally bearing the surname Erdős, according to 2018 estimates.

Variants and spellings of the last name Erdos

The surname Erdös (or Erdos) has several variations in spelling due to differences in transliteration from Hungarian to English. Some of these include:

1. Erdős - This is the original Hungarian form of the name, which consists of 'Erdõ' (meaning forest) followed by the possessive suffix '-s'.
2. Erdöss - A less common variation that may result from a phonetic transliteration.
3. Erdosy - This spelling suggests that the name was originally a Hungarian noble title, which has been passed down in some families.
4. ERDOS - An all-capitalized version of the surname, often used for emphasis or to differentiate from other uses of the word "erdos".
5. ERDÖS - This variation may be found when the name is typed with a diacritical mark (the Hungarian acute accent) over the 'o'. However, this mark is often omitted in English-language texts for simplicity.
6. Erdös-type graph theory - A term used in mathematics to refer to a particular class of graphs, named after Paul Erdős, a prominent mathematician who held the Hungarian form of the name.

Famous people with the last name Erdos

Paul Erdös (1913-1996) was a Hungarian mathematician known for his groundbreaking work in number theory, graph theory, and combinatorics. His collaborations with over 500 co-authors earned him the nickname "the most prolific mathematician in history." Due to frequent travel and work, he was said to have lived "on the road," spending his life mostly in other people's homes or at mathematics conferences. Currently, the youngest known Erdös number is 2, belonging to those who have co-authored a paper with someone else who has collaborated directly with Paul Erdös. Additionally, there are several notable individuals with the last name Erdös in various fields outside of mathematics; however, their impact and fame do not rival that of Paul Erdös.

Genealogical research on the last name Erdos

The Erdos surname originates from Hungary and is known to have Jewish roots. One of the most prominent figures with this last name is Paul Erdos (1913-1996), a Hungarian-American mathematician who was known for his collaborative work in number theory, graph theory, set theory, combinatorics, and mathematical analysis. He holds the record for the most mathematical collaborations, with over 1500 co-authors on more than 1500 papers. The Erdos lineage is believed to have begun around the late 1700s in the region of Transylvania, Romania. Notable members of the family were active in various fields during the early 20th century, including law, commerce, and education. Further research into the genealogy of the Erdos family is ongoing to uncover more about their history and accomplishments.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Erdos"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 10 June 2025

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